Did you know that sunflowers are the only major global crop that is native to the United States? And, that this native plant has about 64 species and subspecies that grow wild […]
Call of the wild sunflower
The Cranberry: a very American berry
Native Americans used wild cranberries harvested from their natural habitats and introduced them to settlers hundreds of years ago. Today, most of the cranberries that people eat come from wild selections that […]
Yams – a main staple in Africa, Asia
Climate fluctuations make life difficult for the plants we eat. Unlike us, they can’t move if it’s too hot, too cold, or they don’t have enough water. This is the story of the humble […]
Frank Meyer – an early plant explorer
Food is one of life’s ultimate delights. Surprisingly, many of the foods we enjoy in the United States today are not native to North America. Crop scientists refer to them as “plant […]
Conserving wild crop cousins
Farmers are experiencing a turbulent ride navigating our unpredictable weather. We rely on them to produce food, fiber and other plant-based items the world relies on in our everyday lives. Developing crops […]
What causes stress in plants?
Doesn’t it seem that the older we get the more stressed our lives become? We are told constantly by doctors and the media how dangerous stress is to our health. We can […]
How are plants bred to be biofortified? Why is it important?
The plants in our diet are critical to our health. Food crops provide us with nutrients important to human health, growth, and metabolism. Different vegetable crops contain many types of vitamins and […]
How do scientists do traditional plant breeding?
The “science” of plant breeding has only existed for a little more than a century. But, humans have unofficially been selecting for the ‘cream of the crop’ for over 10,000 years. Farmers […]